News / Author / Manasi Phadke

Manasi Phadke

Manasi Phadke is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times. She covers politics and governance in Maharashtra with a special interest in urban development issues.

Articles by Manasi Phadke

Bullet train: Maharashtra mulls Dharavi as starting point, not BKC

The starting point of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train has been a bone of contention between the state and the central governments

Speaking in the state legislative council, state transport minister Diwakar Raote said the government has not given any land for the project.(Representational photo)

cities

Published on Aug 12, 2017 12:07 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Maharashtra government imposes further curbs on expenditure, mulls shutting down schools with poor attendance across state

In a government resolution on Tuesday, the state government instructed the school education and higher education departments to review institutions with poor attendance and consider shutting them. It also put down regulations for optimising the staff strength.

The government has also instructed that funds for building works cannot be disbursed unless the proposal has received an administrative or technical approval and the expenditure has been budgeted for.(HT)

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Published on Aug 09, 2017 12:28 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

BJP minister’s group used our papers to get loans for themselves, allege farmers in Maharashtra

So far, one farmer, Gajanan Birajdar, has sent a written complaint to the Lokayukta about a Rs3-lakh loan taken in his name from the Union Bank of India

State cooperation minister Subhash Deshmukh(HT FILE)

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Updated on Aug 08, 2017 10:41 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Maharashtra housing scam: Shiv Sena won’t talk about Mehta in legislature, slams him outside

Political observers speculate that the Shiv Sena is guarded as even its party man, minister of state for housing Ravindra Waikar, faced graft allegations last year

Sena’s Sanjay Raut, who’s a member of the Rajya Sabha, said the Shiv Sena’s role was not to dance with the Opposition in the house.(HT File)

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Updated on Aug 07, 2017 09:49 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Shiv Sena slams Maharashtra government over graft allegations against Mehta, Mopalwar

In an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece Saamana, the Shiv Sena also slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its double standards when it comes to corruption.

cities

Published on Aug 04, 2017 03:16 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke

Reversing BMC’s decision, Maharashtra to reserve land in Aarey Colony for Metro car shed

The BJP-led Maharashtra government said there was a lack of alternative plots where the shed can be built

The BJP and the Shiv Sena have often tussled over the proposed Metro car shed at Aarey.(HT File Photo)

cities

Published on Aug 03, 2017 01:52 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Navi Mumbai airport to be ready by 2019, but trans-harbour link to take you there needs a year more

The 220-km trans harbour link will take passengers from Mumbai’s island city to the international airport

Work on the actual airport is scheduled to start next year.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Aug 03, 2017 09:35 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Remove Emergency and Bofors references from textbooks in Maharashtra: Opposition

Legislators alleged the state is trying to drive its political agenda by influencing educational material

Congress and NCP legislators said there is little description of all significant achievements of their party leaders in textbooks.(Pic for Representation)

cities

Published on Aug 01, 2017 01:23 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Maharashtra government plans cycling tracks in 10 cities

The state public works department will test the project, dubbed ‘streets with cycle tracks’ in Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Amravati, Chandrapur, Kolhapur, Solapur, Latur, Aurangabad and Jalgaon

The government has also formed a four-member committee under the chairmanship of the state’s additional director general of police, traffic, to steer the project.(Representational pic)

cities

Updated on Jul 31, 2017 01:19 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Maharashtra agriculture minister missed 11 of 35 cabinet meetings: RTI

Pandurang Fundkar says he missed only two meetings for personal reasons, as for the rest, he was either attending state functions or was part of delegation on foreign tour

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is the only minster who has attended all the cabinet meetings held between July 2016 to May 2017.(HT PHOTO)

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Published on Jul 30, 2017 07:40 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Mumbai university V-C Sanjay Deshmukh may face axe for result delay

Senior state officials said Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 provides the governor with enough grounds to dismiss him

MU V-C Sanjay Deshmukh at the university on Friday.(Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

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Updated on Jul 29, 2017 08:16 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke and Faisal Malik, Mumbai

JD(U) in NDA could lessen Shiv Sena’s importance at Centre

Rumours are doing rounds that the JDU is likely to be given more than a berth in the Modi’s cabinet next month; Shiv Sena has just one

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.(AP)

cities

Published on Jul 28, 2017 10:08 PM IST

Hindustan times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Why Shiv Sena’s blow hot, blow cold tactics towards BJP could backfire

Behind Shiv Sena’s constant barbs at its ally BJP is the party’s pitch for the Opposition space in the state and a fear of being irrelevant on home turf

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at an election campaign recently, Navi Mumbai(Bachchan Kumar/HT)

opinion

Updated on Jul 28, 2017 10:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray turns 57 today, where is he headed?

The party, known as one of the country’s most vociferous regional outfits under his father Bal Thackeray’s leadership, is now being dwarfed in its own home state by the BJP

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray greets his party workers at Matoshree.(SATISH BATE/HT)

cities

Updated on Jul 27, 2017 01:03 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Mumbai University results delay: Vinod Tawde says Maharashtra government will conduct inquiry

Tawde said strict action will be taken against those found guilty.

Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde.

cities

Published on Jul 27, 2017 10:57 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Mumbai university mess: Shiv Sena demands resignations of education minister Tawde, V-C

Aaditya Thackeray asked the governor to conduct an inquiry into why the university decided to opt for online assessment of papers this year, a move that has resulted in chaos and inordinate delays

cities

Updated on Jul 24, 2017 03:20 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

PM Modi should focus on China, Pakistan, not just elections, says Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray

Thackeray said the government may be neglecting threats from Pakistan and China probably because several leaders in internal BJP meetings have singled out Shiv Sena as the party’s top rival

Thackeray also said the country’s internal situation is also not stable if a war sparks at the border today.(File)

cities

Updated on Jul 24, 2017 01:08 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Maharashtra to launch airports in nine small cities in a year

The new airports will make travel to smaller cities easier and affordable

cities

Published on Jul 23, 2017 01:26 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Maharashtra issues draft rules to regularise illegal constructions

The department has invited suggestions and objections on the rules by the end of the month

Lakhs of illegal structures or unauthorised buildings, largely residential ones including those like the controversial Campa Cola compound in Worli, now stand to benefit from this policy.

cities

Updated on Jul 22, 2017 12:37 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Mumbai-Nagpur corridor: Maharashtra to unlock more green zones, forest land for new towns

The move follows the government’s proposal last month to change the reservation of land in 28 villages across five districts to new towns from NDZs or agriculture zones.

cities

Published on Jul 21, 2017 10:17 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Gau rakshaks planting thorns in Modi’s way, brace for Muslims’ resistance, Shiv Sena tells BJP

Mumbai city news: In an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece, Saamana, the Shiv Sena said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is having to battle criticism due to the actions of ‘gau rakshaks’

The Sena slammed gau rakshaks saying if they think protecting the cow is patriotism and religion, they should have gone to Kashmir after the Amarnath yatra attacks to protect their country, as that too is one’s religious and patriotic duty.(File)

cities

Updated on Jul 19, 2017 11:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

RJ Malishka in trouble? Yuva Sena leaders want BMC chief to file ₹500-crore suit against her

Mumbai city news: Two Yuva Sena leaders said 93.5 Red FM and Malishka were unfairly blaming the BMC for problems that are not under its jurisdiction

The BMC is said to be mulling against the radio channel and its show host Malishka.(HT)

cities

Updated on Jul 20, 2017 01:49 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Mumbai to get 2 more Metro lines, will it make your commute smoother?

Mumbai city news: The nod is important as the alignment for the two lines partially falls in the ecologically sensitive Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)

The two lines that have got an approval are Lokhandwala-Jogeshwari-Kanjurmarg (Metro 6) and Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan (Metro 5).

cities

Updated on Jul 18, 2017 08:29 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySwapnil Rawal & Manasi Phadke, Mumbai

Maharashtra wants to work on trans-harbour link at night, during flamingo season

Mumbai city news: The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority wants the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to allow construction work on the project to go on at night

The state’s coastal zone regulator plans to request the Centre to relax certain conditions it put forth while granting an environment clearance for the Rs17,500-crore project.(HT)

cities

Updated on Jul 17, 2017 09:18 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Maharashtra women jail staff forced to keep sexual relations with seniors: letter sent to Sena leader

Gorhe, a senior member of the state legislative council, received a letter from a woman superintendent of a district jail complaining about the incidents

Shiv Sena legislator Neelam Gorhe has demanded a probe into the allegations.(HT FILE)

cities

Updated on Jul 12, 2017 04:08 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Show Kashmir is part of India, scrap its ‘special status’ in 8 days, Shiv Sena tells PM Modi

Mumbai city news: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government has not been able to change the situation in Kashmir and it is now time for tough action, said Sena.

The Sena said it is unfortunate that while the Union government celebrated the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax in the entire country it could not apply the single levy that has unified the country to Kashmir due to Article 370.(FILE)

cities

Updated on Jul 12, 2017 10:13 AM IST

ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai:

Maharashtra sets aside 250 hectares of forest land for Navi Mumbai airport

Mumbai city news: The land is spread over 12 villages in Raigad district

A delay in getting the forest land had held up crucial pre-development works for the Rs16,000-crore Navi Mumbai airport project

cities

Updated on Jul 12, 2017 01:09 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Mere condemnation of Amarnath attack won’t do, time for PM Modi to prove he has 56-inch chest, says Sena

Mumbai city news: Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that when the Amarnath yatra was under threat in 1996, it went on smoothly only because of Sena founder Bal Thackeray.

cities

Updated on Jul 11, 2017 11:54 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Maharashtra government may not be able to make Mumbai slum-free by 2022

Mumbai city news: The first step —physical mapping of all slums and recording details of all slum dwellers—has been delayed inordinately.

According to the state housing department, with the help of the state-run MahaOnline, the government has so far surveyed 363 slum clusters covering 1.42 lakh hutments.(File)

cities

Updated on Jul 14, 2017 01:20 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

Brace for bumpy ride on Mumbai highway, Maharashtra officials, firm fight instead of repairing it

Mumbai city news: A private firm in charge of repairs said the state’s failure to pay its dues after tolls were scrapped has hampered ongoing work

A PWD official said about 3.6kmof the 24.89-km highway is in a shoddy state.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 10, 2017 09:48 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManasi Phadke, Mumbai

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Manasi Phadke

Manasi Phadke is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times. She covers politics and governance in Maharashtra with a special interest in urban development issues.

The starting point of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train has been a bone of contention between the state and the central governments

In a government resolution on Tuesday, the state government instructed the school education and higher education departments to review institutions with poor attendance and consider shutting them. It also put down regulations for optimising the staff strength.

So far, one farmer, Gajanan Birajdar, has sent a written complaint to the Lokayukta about a Rs3-lakh loan taken in his name from the Union Bank of India

Political observers speculate that the Shiv Sena is guarded as even its party man, minister of state for housing Ravindra Waikar, faced graft allegations last year

In an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece Saamana, the Shiv Sena also slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its double standards when it comes to corruption.

The BJP-led Maharashtra government said there was a lack of alternative plots where the shed can be built

The 220-km trans harbour link will take passengers from Mumbai’s island city to the international airport

Legislators alleged the state is trying to drive its political agenda by influencing educational material

The state public works department will test the project, dubbed ‘streets with cycle tracks’ in Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Amravati, Chandrapur, Kolhapur, Solapur, Latur, Aurangabad and Jalgaon

Pandurang Fundkar says he missed only two meetings for personal reasons, as for the rest, he was either attending state functions or was part of delegation on foreign tour

Senior state officials said Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 provides the governor with enough grounds to dismiss him

Rumours are doing rounds that the JDU is likely to be given more than a berth in the Modi’s cabinet next month; Shiv Sena has just one

Behind Shiv Sena’s constant barbs at its ally BJP is the party’s pitch for the Opposition space in the state and a fear of being irrelevant on home turf

The party, known as one of the country’s most vociferous regional outfits under his father Bal Thackeray’s leadership, is now being dwarfed in its own home state by the BJP

Tawde said strict action will be taken against those found guilty.

Aaditya Thackeray asked the governor to conduct an inquiry into why the university decided to opt for online assessment of papers this year, a move that has resulted in chaos and inordinate delays

Thackeray said the government may be neglecting threats from Pakistan and China probably because several leaders in internal BJP meetings have singled out Shiv Sena as the party’s top rival

The new airports will make travel to smaller cities easier and affordable

The department has invited suggestions and objections on the rules by the end of the month

The move follows the government’s proposal last month to change the reservation of land in 28 villages across five districts to new towns from NDZs or agriculture zones.

Mumbai city news: In an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece, Saamana, the Shiv Sena said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is having to battle criticism due to the actions of ‘gau rakshaks’

Mumbai city news: Two Yuva Sena leaders said 93.5 Red FM and Malishka were unfairly blaming the BMC for problems that are not under its jurisdiction

Mumbai city news: The nod is important as the alignment for the two lines partially falls in the ecologically sensitive Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)

Mumbai city news: The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority wants the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to allow construction work on the project to go on at night

Gorhe, a senior member of the state legislative council, received a letter from a woman superintendent of a district jail complaining about the incidents

Mumbai city news: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government has not been able to change the situation in Kashmir and it is now time for tough action, said Sena.

Mumbai city news: The land is spread over 12 villages in Raigad district

Mumbai city news: Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that when the Amarnath yatra was under threat in 1996, it went on smoothly only because of Sena founder Bal Thackeray.

Mumbai city news: The first step —physical mapping of all slums and recording details of all slum dwellers—has been delayed inordinately.

Mumbai city news: A private firm in charge of repairs said the state’s failure to pay its dues after tolls were scrapped has hampered ongoing work

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